Professor of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), Prof. Dr. Jatna Supriatna, has entered his retirement period on October 1, 2021. Marking his retirement, he delivered a speech entitled Conservation Biology: Saka Guru Conservation and Wildlife Tourism as well as the launch of an autobiography book which tells the journey of the scientist and environmental figure who is often described as ” Begawan Conservation of Nature”. In his speech Prof. Jatna said that as a young branch of science, conservation biology is based on the integration and synthesis of many basic biological sciences; genetics, evolutionary biology, population biology, biogeography, and ecology. This scientific discipline began to be seen when the science of community ecology and island biogeography developed very rapidly with various theories emerging in the 1960s and 1970s.
“Nature and biodiversity provide an extraordinary emotional sensation, acting as a psycho-spiritual resource for humans. Being close to nature gives peace to anyone. Nature continues to provide inspiration, for creative work through the extraordinary aesthetic value of biodiversity. Nature is indeed unique, and makes humans curious and explore it. There is an inner satisfaction that is priceless in the human heart when exploring nature,” said Prof. Jatna. The tourism sector is currently the hope of many people because Indonesia’s nature is indeed the leading mega biodiversity in the world. One of the tourism sectors that is also developing is wildlife tourism, nature tourism, and tourism related to ecosystems. Wildlife tourism is one of the options in promoting a unique environment that maintains its authenticity as well as an area for tourist destinations.
Its potential is formulated in the concept of environmental development based on nature conservation. “An area will have high value and become a special attraction if there is a unique species or ecosystem,” said prof. Jatna. After delivering the speech, Prof. Jatna introduces his autobiography entitled “Traces of an Adventurer, Educator and Entrepreneur of Natural Life”.
The book is a work that tells about his life experiences from a young to an old age on an adventure in the forests of Indonesia and 80 countries in the world, written by Prof. Jatna, and published by the Torch Foundation. “I tell you about my life’s journey, I don’t mean to be flattered, praised, famous, and the like, in a riya and ujub nature. God willing, I did not mean for these things. Indeed, I am also a bit confused about how to tell my story so as not to lead to pride and self-respect, but try to tell about the work of an adventurer, educator, researcher and nature conservation activist,” he said.
“This book was made in a very short time when I had to stay at home continuously for more than a year during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, I was very productive in writing. I fill my time by writing books and papers. But I am not very happy because I cannot meet face to face with students who are thirsty for knowledge,” said Prof. Jatna.
Not only sharing stories about his adventures, through the book which is almost 500 pages thick, he wants to motivate readers, especially the younger generation with an interest in preserving nature, which he hopes will become the next generation of his baton. During the event which was broadcast live on FMIPA UI’s official YouTube channel, a webinar was also held entitled “Conservation of Endemic Species vs. Sustainable Wildlife Tourism” by presenting a number of experts and practitioners in the field of conservation namely, Ir. Wiranto, M.Sc. (Director General of the Directorate General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, Ministry of Environment and Forestry), Dr. Frans Teguh, M.A. (Expert Staff of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy), Stave Noakes (Ecolodge Indonesia), Dr. Samedi (Director of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, Sumatra, Kehati), Lukita Awang Nistyantara, S.Hut., M.Sc. (Head of Komodo National Park), and Arief Setiawan, S. Hut. (SwaraOwa).
In the event which was held on Tuesday (12/10), Prof. Jatna received congratulations and thanks as well as testimony from the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Dr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, B.B.A., M.B.A., and colleagues namely, Dr. Alue Dohong (Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry), and Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris (UI Deputy Chancellor for Education and Student Affairs as well as FMIPA UI Professor), Prof. Sumi Hudiyono PWS (Chairman of the FMIPA UI Professorial Council), and Prof. Dr. Soekarja Somadikarta (Prof. Emeritus Biology FMIPA UI). A member of environmental science and a member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) Prof. Dr. Emil Salim, M.A., Ph.D., also gave testimony with Prof. Ir. Rachmat Witoelar (Minister of Environment and Forestry for the period 2004-2009), Dr. err. nat. Yasman (Chair of the Department of Biology FMIPA UI), and Kartini Nurdin (Indonesian Torch Library Foundation). All of these testimonies exposed Prof. Jatna as a prima donna in his field of protecting biodiversity, especially biology and zoology. Prof. Jatna Supriatna, was born on September 7, 1951 in Gianyar, Bali. He has been a fighter for environmental sustainability for more than 40 years.
Not only dedicating himself at Universitas Indonesia (UI) but he is also active in imparting knowledge outside the UI campus such as at IPB University and the University of North Sumatra, also in Malaysia (National University of Malaysia and Putra Malaysia University), and in Australia (Australian National University). In 2011, he was appointed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia as a member of the AIPI Basic Sciences Commission because his expertise and achievements are considered to have a positive impact on the development and use of science for the government and society to achieve national goals.
He won several national and international awards, including B.J. Habibie Award in 2008 –in the field of Natural Sciences–, Achmad Bakrie Awards –in the field of Basic science and Environment–, from the Freedom Institute, Netherland Golden Ark Award for Nature Conservation by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1999, Terry MacManus Award from Conservation International, Washington DC in 2010, to Lifetime Achievement and leadership in the field of Biodiversity Conservation from Conservation International, Washington DC, USA in 2017.
Until now, it has been recorded that 21 of his books have been published by Pustaka Torch in Indonesian and in English by Springer. In addition, more than 150 scientific papers have been published in reputable international journals such as Nature, Science, Scientific Reports, Conservation Biology, Global Ecology and Conservation and others. More than 100 papers have been presented by Prof. Jatna in scientific meetings in Indonesia and abroad. Also dozens of Prof.’s writings. Jatna in newspapers Kompas, Sinar Harapan, Jakarta Post, and others.
